Restaurant
Of The Week
By Teresa Barile
Pollos A La Brasa Mario:
Colombian Fare, Great Prices

the emphasis is on freshly prepared food served in very generous portions at prices so reasonable, the whole family can enjoy a meal out together.

The Colombian cuisine at Pollos A La Brasa Mario includes the best in rotisserie-roasted chicken, grilled meats, fish and all the wonderful side dishes that accompany a Colombian meal. Translated, the name means "Mario’s chicken on the grill," and amiable owner Sigifredo Camargo is proud to run such a successful chain of family restaurants, where the emphasis is on freshly prepared food served in very generous portions at prices so reasonable, the whole family can enjoy a meal out together. Pollos a la Brasa Mario will also deliver to your home or office.

The Pollos A La Brasa Mario chain has a total of five locations in Jackson Heights and Astoria. We visited the five-year-old location at the corner of Broadway and 41st Street in Astoria, a sparkling clean restaurant with a red and white "balcony" overlooking orange trees and hanging plants to provide festive, tropical ambiance. Latin music played softly, creates a soothing atmosphere in which to dine. Patrons, families, couples and singles alike are made to feel very welcome here as the courteous wait staff describes tantalizing specials of the day and caters to every need.

Appetizers are not a major constituent of Colombian cuisine, but the mammoth entree portions more than compensate. Pollos A La Brasa Mario’s marinated, rotisserie roasted chicken which melts in your mouth. The special marinade is a closely guarded secret that will keep you coming back for more. Enjoy a quarter chicken, taken off the spit and served with chicken soup, delicious Spanish rice and French fries and a healthy salad topped with fresh slices of avocado, all for $6.95. Better yet, take a whole chicken home with you and feed the whole family, again for $6.95.

Camargo wants diners to take advantage of incredibly priced lunch specials from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For just $5.95, enjoy chicken marsala on Monday, grilled pork chops on Tuesday, a whole fried trout on Wednesday, and T-bone steak on Friday, just to name a few. The low price includes a generous helping of delicious rice and beans. It is not surprising that Pollos a la Brasa Mario is busy all day and all night. To accommodate weekend diners, the restaurant stays open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays with home delivery until 2 a.m.

Colombian food is not hot and spicy, just flavorful. However, fiery hot grilled jalapeno chilis are available on the side. Anyone who enjoys grilled meats must try the bandeja Mario, a combination platter of salad, grilled steak, quarter chicken, pork loin, beans and rice and a homemade corn cake, all for $13.75. This is a great way to sample many typical dishes all at once. What’s more, you’ll be hard pressed to finish everything on your plate.

Another popular entrée is entrana, grilled skirt steak cooked to order and served with a crunchy salad, rice and savory beans. Filet mignon and prime ribs are often featured as specials, as is piquana, a Brazilian dish of grilled beef with salt, pepper and garlic.

Camargo suggested I try a shrimp with rice dish—-a dozen plump, grilled shrimp around a mound of saffron-infused rice and veggies ($13.95). Other seafood dishes include shrimp in garlic sauce and golden, breaded shrimp. Another seafood specialty worth trying is the seafood cazuela, which combines lobster, crab, shrimp and clams in a light and flavorful cream sauce that is delicious with white rice. Enhance your meal with a bottle of wine from Chile or an ice-cold beer.

Finish your meal with a sweet, such as the light and creamy flan, a traditional custard dessert, or sweet figs with Colombian cheese. A rich cup of Colombian coffee is also a must.

One visit to Pollos a la Brasa Mario is not enough to sample all the tasty dishes. At prices so affordable, you’ll come back again and again for the freshly prepared Colombian food served with a smile in a very pleasant setting.

Pollos a la Brasa Mario is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends. They will quickly deliver to your home or office—a great way to beat the heat. Credit cards are accepted. Catering is available off premises and private parties can be held in the restaurant.

`Pollos a la Brasa Mario

40-19 Broadway

Astoria

(718) 932-2424